Rain strikes again, Game 3 postponed

Wednesday

Jul 10, 2013 at 11:08 PM

The Davidson County Warriors didn't win Wednesday night but they didn't lose either — meaning the trip to Asheboro wasn't a total loss.

BY MIKE DUPREZThe Dispatch

ASHEBORO | The Davidson County Warriors didn't win Wednesday night but they didn't lose either — meaning the trip to Asheboro wasn't a total loss.Torrential rain, an all-too-common occurrence the last few weeks, halted play in the bottom of the second inning in Game 3 of the Warriors' second-round American Legion playoff series with Randolph County at McCrary Park.And that was enough to bring a smile to Davidson County coach Dale Moser's face."We get to play another day, don't we?" Moser said. "It's no fun to come all the way over here and get rained on. We'll come back tomorrow and try to play again."They might. There is a 60 percent chance of rain on Thursday.Randolph County (24-5) leads the best-of-five series 2-0. The Warriors (12-12) need to sweep the next three games to advance to the second round. If the teams play Thursday and Post 8 wins, Game 4 would be at 7 p.m. Friday at Holt-Moffitt Field. Game 5, if necessary, would be played on Saturday at McCrary Park.The game was scoreless with two out in the top of the second and John Hanes was at bat facing an 0-2 count when the umpires cleared the field. After more than an hour of nonstop rain, which was very heavy at times, the umpires called it an evening. That might have been a blessing for Davidson County, whose pitching has been stretched thin."If it has to happen, I would rather for it to be then than in the fourth," Moser said. "I look at it that way."Justin Freeman pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and will start again Thursday."I look at that like it's a bullpen," Moser said. "I'll start him. He'll be OK, he didn't throw that many pitches in the first inning. After that, we'll go with whoever else we have left to bring in. We'll do the best we can as a team."Randolph took a 5-1 decision in Game 1 on Monday. The Warriors were close, trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. But in Game 2 on Tuesday, they were blown out 12-0 in seven innings."Yesterday, it snowballed," Moser said. "Our pitching, we've had all these games where we had to start and stop with the rain. I thought tonight we came out ready to play a much better game. I think we had more intensity."Moser has also had to juggle his lineup since second-leading hitter and leadoff spark plug Matt Berrier left the team before the second round. Trevor Nanney and Trevor Jones have split time at second base. Austin Stilley batted leadoff on Monday and went 0-for-4. Matt Thorburn batted leadoff on Tuesday and Zach Queen batted in the leadoff slot on Wednesday.Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.